Toronto defenseman Chris Tanev, in his first game back after sustaining a concussion, left the ice by stretcher in the third period of the Maple Leafs’ 5-2 win over the host Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Tanev was hit from behind, shoulder to shoulder with their heads apparently coming together, by Flyers forward Matvei Michkov at 8:23 of the third period. Tanev remained face down while attended to by medical staff from both teams, and his head was secured in a brace before he left and flashed a thumbs-up.
Michkov was called for interference on the play.
Tanev, 35, had last played Oct. 21, a 5-2 home loss to New Jersey in which he had helmet-to-helmet contact with Devils forward Dawson Mercer and missed the next four games.
“He’s just getting some more tests done now,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said of Tanev being taken to a local hospital. “He’s moving, and I think he’ll be all right, but he’s getting some tests done right now, so we’ll know more in a little while.”
The Flyers also reacted to the sequence of events.
“Just an unfortunate play,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “You hope that he’s OK. You feel bad for (Michkov), too. He’s obviously upset about the hit and going through that and experiencing (it) from his shoes as well, so overall, just something you don’t want to see.”
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said: “I think it’s an unfortunate play. (Tanev is) a warrior, so I hope he’s OK. … I don’t think it was foul play. It was just interference.”
Tanev assisted Jake McCabe’s goal to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead in the second period Saturday. He now has two assists in eight games this season.
Tanev entered the game with 209 career points (36 goals, 173 assists), a plus-156 rating, 218 penalty minutes, 1,849 blocks and 404 hits in 874 regular-season games.
Tanev has played for the Vancouver Canucks (2010-2020), Calgary Flames (2020-24), Dallas Stars (2024) and Maple Leafs (2024-present).
